Bill O’Reilly vs. Valerie Jarrett on How to Truly Empower Poor, Minority Communities

Bill O’Reilly took on White House senior advisor Valeria Jarrett on Thursday regarding President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative as well as the specific things that can be done to empower people in poor, minority communities.

O’Reilly said one of the biggest issues stems from the “gangsta” culture within some of these communities. However, there doesn’t seem to be “urgency” on behalf of the Obama administration to truly address it.

“There’s a culture of cynicism, like ‘we can’t make it, we aren’t going to be a part of this, we are going to do what we want, we are going to sell drugs,’” he told Jarrett. “We have got to get in there, and I don’t know if you guys see the urgency of that.”

(Fox News)

Jarrett disagreed, saying that Obama recognizes the urgency and the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative encourages accountability.

O’Reilly then set his sights on some of the rap artists that many minority youths tend to idolize. He described them as “these guys with the hats on backwards” and “terrible rap lyrics.”

He called on stars like Jay Z, Kanye West and Magic Johnson to speak out on the issue and "make it uncomfortable to have a baby out of wedlock, make it uncomfortable to sell drugs."

“You got to get them in there to tell these kids that you’ve got to stop the disruptive behavior or you’re going to wind up in a morgue or in prison,” he later added.

Without addressing the rap issue, Jarrett pointed to “wonderful programs” like Obama’s new initiative that highlight good role models for young people. She used Obama as an example.

“Are you just blowing off my idea here?” O’Reilly pressed.

Watch the rest of the interview here:

Obama on Thursday called for vigorous efforts to reverse underachievement among young black and Hispanic males. He also cautioned young minority men not to repeat his own youthful mistakes in an unforgiving world.

The president kicked off his "My Brother's Keeper" initiative from the White House East Room, appearing on stage with teenagers involved in the Becoming a Man program for at-risk boys in his hometown of Chicago.

The aim is to "start a different cycle," Obama said. "If we help these wonderful young men become better husbands and fathers and well-educated, hardworking, good citizens, then not only will they contribute to the growth and prosperity of this country, but they will pass those lessons on to their children, on to their grandchildren."

The president said he, too, could have been a negative statistic, because of his own unfocused anger over having no father at home.

"I made bad choices. I got high, not always thinking about the harm it could do. I didn't always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses. Sometimes I sold myself short," Obama said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: Fox Nation)